as one of the quintessential squares of Berlin. It presents an awkward yet typical Berlin combination of the old and the new, the cultural and commercial. Since the turn of the millennium, city plans developed for the Breitscheidplatz include bettering the quality for pedestrians and more public competitions for the future planning of Breitscheidplatz. In 2006, the automobile tunnel on Budapester Straße in front of the Bikini-Haus was closed and the pedestrian zone extended. From 2010 to 2014 the Bikinihaus was refurbished as a shopping mall and a hotel, including the redevelopment of the adjacent Zoo Palast as a multi-screen cinema complex. The destruction of the Schimmelpfeng-Haus began in 2009 to build the Zoofenster highrise, with offices, restaurants and a Waldorf Astoria hotel, and the neighbouring Upper West tower block, to create an attractive urban area with livable space. Other plans include renovating the bus station on Hardenbergplatz in front of the Bahnhof Zoo and other urban spaces in the vicinity. 2016 Christmas market attack On 19 December 2016, at about 20:00 local time, a truck-ramming attack was made on the Christmas market at Breitscheidplatz, killing thirteen people and injuring 48 others. In preparation for the Christmas market 2018, the square and its surrounding were fortified against further terrorist attacks. Public transport Breitscheidplatz can be reached by S-Bahn via the Zoologischer Garten station (S 5, S 7, S 75, S 9) as well as by U-Bahn via Zoologischer Garten (U 2, U 9) and Kurfürstendamm stations (U 1, U 9). Busses stop at Breitscheidplatz (lines 100 and 200) and Europa-Center (M29, M19). The Bahnhof Zoo was constructed in 1882 and functioned as the main railway station of West Berlin. Its importance as a major hub diminished when in preparation for the 2006 FIFA World Cup the new Berlin Hauptbahnhof was completed at the site of the former Lehrter Bahnhof; this is now the main train station in Berlin, and the German Intercity-Express and InterCity long distance trains no longer stop by default at Zoologischer Garten. See also City West References Sources http://www.stadtentwicklung.berlin.de 18 May 2006 Senatsverwaltung für Stadtentwicklung, Berlin (April 2004) "Nachhaltiges Berlin". Senatsverwaltung für Stadtentwicklung, Berlin (December 2005) "Stadtforum Berlin". External links Webcam of the Breitscheidplatz Google Images of the Breitscheidplatz Homepage of the Europa-Center Squares in Berlin Buildings and structures in Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf Charlottenburg